Foster Kennedy Syndrome

February 17, 2009

I remember my neurosurgeon standing by my bedside in neuro ICU, his interns (SO many interns) huddled around the foot of my bed. He said something like, “This is is the lady who presented with the olfactory grove meningioma and ____ _____ syndrome.” Forget the interns, I asked ” What syndrome? What’s that? You never said anything about that!” Then I promptly forgot everything he said.

Well then smashedpea’s blog reminded me, Foster Kennedy Syndrome. It refers to a constellation of findings associated with tumors of the frontal lobe. Apparently it is quite exciting for neuro medical types. I had no symptoms of it before, but I do now, aka, no sense of smell “Anosmia”.

About me and this blog

This blog is about navigating a glitch in the road. On Dec 2nd 2008 I found out I had an Olfactory Groove Meningioma, a benign tumour on the meninges — the membranes that surround your brain and spinal cord.

The little bugger was removed surgically by craniotomy on Jan 28th 2009. Recent times have led me to spend a lot of time with my GP, neurosurgeon, neurologist, naturopath, and osteopath, and this is an account from diagnosis through recovery.

I hope this provides some insight to family, friends, and those who are embarking on the same journey. In my own insignificant way, I'd like to raise awareness of meningiomas and help in early detection, if just for one person.